MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� Giannis Antetokounmpo says he鈥檚 healthy and wants to play even as the Milwaukee Bucks continue to say the two-time MVP is too injured to take the floor.
Antetokounmpo missed a 10th straight game on Friday night against the Boston Celtics due to what the team has described as a Antetokounmpo hasn鈥檛 played since landing awkwardly during a victory over the Indiana Pacers.
鈥淚鈥檓 healthy,鈥� Antetokounmpo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Athletic before Friday鈥檚 game. 鈥淚 hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I鈥檓 a player. I get paid to play.鈥�
For the last couple of weeks, Antetokounmpo has participated in pregame warmups without showing any apparent signs of injury.
Antetokounmpo also noted that the Bucks should have known this about him since the 31-year-old has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee.
Throughout that time, Antetokounmpo has had a reputation for rapid returns from injury, most notably when he hyperextended his knee during Milwaukee鈥檚 2021 playoff run but missed two games before returning to lead the Bucks to their
鈥淵ou know who you鈥檙e dealing with,鈥� Antetokounmpo told reporters. 鈥淪o, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it鈥檚 like a slap in my face.鈥�
Bucks coach Doc Rivers addressed Antetokounmpo’s comments after the to Boston.
鈥淭he tough part about all this is that I鈥檓 in the middle and I have nothing to do with it,鈥� Rivers said. 鈥淐oaches don鈥檛 decide any of this. The problem with our league is the coaches are the ones sitting out front. And we have to sit here and answer this stuff. I think there are two sides to this, I will tell you that, but I don鈥檛 want to get too involved in it.鈥�
The Bucks still had a remote chance of earning a 10th straight playoff berth at the time of that Indiana game, but they were officially from contention last week. There鈥檚 also the possibility of Antetokounmpo getting hurt again if he returns to action 鈥� he has missed a career-high 41 games this season and had two extended absences due to
鈥淚 understand the circumstances 鈥� yes, we鈥檙e not going to be in the playoffs,鈥� Antetokounmpo said. 鈥淔or some people鈥檚 eyes, it鈥檚 not worth it for me to be out there. But for me, it鈥檚 something that goes against my nature.鈥�
Rivers said he has a 鈥済reat relationship鈥� with Antetokounmpo and that he often talks to the superstar about what to work on and what to add to his game. Rivers added that he didn’t like the 鈥渉e-said, she-said鈥� nature of this dispute and added that 鈥渢his is a grown man’s game, and it should be handled that way by everybody.鈥�
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 like that this is so public,” Rivers said. “This is where grown men get in a room and they talk it out. Whether they agree or disagree, that doesn鈥檛 matter. But this should not be public, and I don鈥檛 like that.鈥�
Antetokounmpo also wanted the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, Alex, who made his NBA debut Tuesday. There was a possibility of three Antetokounmpo brothers playing alongside each other in the same game, since Giannis鈥� older brother, Thanasis, also is on the Bucks.
鈥淲hen my dad passed away, I pretty much raised (Alex),鈥� Antetokounmpo said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 able to be on the team and suit up and chase an opportunity to be great. You really think I don鈥檛 want to suit up and play with my brother? Anybody who thinks that is an idiot.鈥�
Thanasis and Alex both played in the closing minutes Friday night, the first time the two brothers had played together in an NBA game.
Antetokounmpo鈥檚 desire to play 鈥� and the Bucks鈥� wishes to rest him 鈥� drew the attention of the last month.
鈥淭he Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,鈥� the union said in a statement. 鈥淯nfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.鈥�
This dispute between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks comes at a time when his future in Milwaukee is uncertain. Antetokounmpo鈥檚 name leading up to the trade deadline, though the Bucks
Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October. If he doesn鈥檛 sign the extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, or the Bucks could decide to trade him beforehand.
Now they find themselves at odds over how to handle the rest of this season.
鈥淚 don’t think there’s a bad person in this group – none of the guys that I’m talking about,鈥� Rivers said. 鈥淭hey’re all good people. But we’ve got to figure out how to put good people on the same page, and it stays inside. I’ve never been a fan of negotiating in the media. I don’t think it’s good for anybody.鈥�
Antetokounmpo had his own take on how this could be resolved.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know where the relationship goes from there,鈥� Antetokounmpo said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to go to couples therapy.鈥�
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